Founder & Church History

In 1897, Triumph’s Founder, Bishop Smith, (1865 – 1920) while in prayer and meditation had a vision in which he saw three figures; an eagle, a lion and a brown skin young woman. Smith believed this vision was a message from God. To him each image was a metaphor; the eagle represented truth; the lion represented wisdom and power; and the brown skin young woman represented the oppressed and marginalized communities throughout the world.

The experience awakened Bishop Smith’s consciousness to a new understanding of the purpose of the Church. He now saw the Church as an agent of liberation from the systemic systems of racial, economic and other forms of oppression. Smith believed that the church was commissioned to lead the way in the pursuit of truth, justice and community building. He firmly believed that all humanity was not only created in the image and likeness of God but was indeed the embodiment of God. Smith believed that this forgotten truth – once awakened would be the catalyst for humanity’s creation of a new world order rooted in truth, justice and love.

The doors of the Church were opened on January 20, 1904.